X. DELAGOA. CHAP. flave-trade. But this was not Charles's only trade; for Sir. T. Modiford, then Governor of Jamaica, having, by his fole authority, declared war against the Spaniards, his mafter not only approved of these predatory hoftilities; but, in 1668, sent the governor an instruction, empowering him to nominate partners, to participate with His Majesty in the captures,' "they finding victuals, wear and tear." Charles was several years actually engaged in this privateering, or rather bucaneering, trade*.-He and his immediate fucceffor appear, indeed, to have been par nobile fratrum, and to have left the British nation fufficient reason to remember them, and the day when an over-ruling Providence was pleased to remove their family from the throne, and to bless the nation with a conftitution which has had confiderable influence on the arbitrary governments of Europe, and the radical principles of which, it is to be hoped, they will all gradually adopt, as far as their various circumftances will permit. Col. Bolts confulted about a Swedish colony. 326. The late Gustavus III. of Sweden, who appeared to favour commerce more than agriculture, having heard of the abilities of Colonel Bolts, in colonial affairs, and his great knowledge of mercantile geography, prevailed on him (through his Ambassador at Paris, Baron Stael von Holstein) to go to Sweden, in order to confult with him about eftablishing a fettlement for the convenience of the Swedish Eaft Indian fhips. But, when the Colonel arrived at Stockholm, he found the King fo deeply involved in the late unfortunate war with Russia, that he could attend to no other * See Poftlethwayt's Di&t. Art. Eng. Afr. Co.-Long's Hift. of Jamaica, Vol. I. p. 626, compared with Vol. II. p. 140.-Edwards's Ditto Vol. II. p. 35, 36.— Hill's Nav. Hift.-Labat Nouv. Relat. de l'Afrique. X. ~ DELAGOA. business. After a long and fruitlefs attendance, the Colonel CHAP. returned to Paris, having received, by His Majesty's order, about £500 fter. a fum which, though perhaps as much as an almost exhausted treasury could well afford, was, however, very inadequate to the expense he incurred in colle&ting materials, not to mention the time and labour which the formation of estimates, and the arrangement of an extensive scheme, must have cost him. But though this plan be intimately connected with my fubject, and may one day be carried into execution, I do not think myself at liberty to detail it's particulars, without the Colonel's exprefs concur rence. NEW PLAN FOR EXPLORING AFRICA 327. I have just been informed that the gentlemen of the African affociation of London, perfevering in their design of exploring the interior parts of that continent, which reflects fo much honour on this age and nation, have equipped two vessels, for a new expedition, which now wait for convoy; and that they are to be generously affifted, by the British government, with the fum of £6000 fterling. The perfons appointed to carry this plan into execution, are a Mr. Park, who is a good natural historian, and a Mr. Willis, on whom His Majesty, on this occasion, has been pleased to confer the rank of conful. Both the gentlemen have the character of being uncommonly well qualified for fuch an undertaking; and they are to be attended by a captain, 60 foldiers, and proper affiftants, of every description. Taking for granted, that X. CHA P. that Goree has been abandoned by the French, they are first. to proceed thither, where they will find a town ready built, and fitted for every purpose of health and accomodation, in a hot climate. From this firft ftation, I understand, they propose to fail for Fatatenda, on the River Gambia, beyond which veffels of any confiderable burden cannot conveniently proceed. From Fatatenda, it is faid, Mr. Park takes his departure for Bambouk, whence he is to convey back intelligence of his arrival to Mr. Willis, who will then follow him thither.. Both gentlemen having arrived at Bambouk, Mr. Willis will remain there, to preserve a communication with the ships, while Mr. Park will endeavour to penetrate to the River Niger, or to the city of Tombuctoo. I have been told farther, that the chiefs of the country are to be engaged to assist in the undertaking; but, with a precaution which, I believe, has never before been taken: they are to receive no previous douceurs, and no rewards whatever, till they shall produce certificates, or other proofs, that they have actually performed their engagements; and then they will be paid the rewards ftipulated, on board the veffels, or at the places where the goods are fecured.—If this be the plan, and I have reason to believe that the above are the principal heads of it, I must say that it appears to me, to be better laid, and consequently, to be more likely to fucceed, than any one of the kind that has yet come within my knowledge. END OF THE FIRST PART. ADVERTISEMENT. IT would give the author great pain, if in delivering his free, but confcientious, opinions on fubjects fo very interefting to humanity, his language fhould unfortunately be mifunderstood; especially fo mifunderstood, as to fuggeft the repetition of Colonial attempts, on prin ciples, merely pecuniary, mercantile, or, in fhort, mercenary. His meaning is to reprobate fuch principles. The impolicy and the inhu manity of acting, exclufively, on them, in colonial undertakings, he hinted at, in his pamphlet published in 1789, and has endeavoured to show, more at length, throughout the present work. The period indeed feems faft approaching, if it has not yet arrived, when other principles will be acknowledged and acted upon; when perfons of property, discarding all false commercial maxims, and adopting those of benevolence, which is but another word for true policy, will fuccefsfully labour to reconcile felf intereft with the interests of mankind. The author would refpectfully intimate, that, from the late commencement of the work, and the tardy and sparing communication of materials which he reafonably expected from perfons, who once appeared to favour his undertaking, he, at laft, found himself very much hurried, and circumfcribed in point of time. Thefe circumstances, which he could not control, have embarraffed him much; and, it is hoped, will fufficiently account for the delay of the publication, beyond the time he proposed; as well as for such inaccuracies as, he fears, may have escaped him. It is hoped, that the candid reader will eafily perceive, that his fincere intention, throughout, is to improve, not to offend.-DELECTANDO, pariter que monendo, will be allowed to be a more proper motto for a literary effay, than for one intended to promote arduous undertakings. Perhaps the reader will not be displeased, at finding the subject much more fully treated, than was promifed in the propofals; nor at the interfperfion of many particulars, perhaps more interesting than known, in addition to fuch remarks as arofe from the author's Dd own own travelling experience. On the extenfion of the plan, a change of the title became neceffary: hence the prefent one (" An Essay on Colonization," &c) has been substituted for that which was announced in the propofals. The enlargement of the work, alfo gave rise to it's divifion into two parts, corresponding to the important diftin&tion between the Colonies already established, or attempted, in Africa and it's iffands, on the principles of commerce-and thofe now forming there (by the British and the Danes) on the principles of humanity. (See the Contents).. To the whole, will be fubjoined an appendix, confifting of papers. and documents, illuftrative of the work; alfo a nautical map, and fome other engravings, one of which will include a likeness of a gentleman whofe modeft and unaffected, but ardent, unwearied, and truly Chriftian beneficence has long been (and long may it be!) an ornament to the British nation, and to human nature itself. A table of errata, &c. will be given in the fecond part. Bayerische |